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Travellers diarrhea... Help!

29 replies

IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 06:15

I'm in Mexico on my second day of holiday and the dreaded travellers diarrhea has struck.

Please help - what do I do?

OP posts:
SimonitesSocks · 26/03/2019 06:21

Can you get to a pharmacy easily (or do you have someone with you who could go, if you're reluctant to go out)?

anniehm · 26/03/2019 06:22

Imodium! Have you got some with you if not go to a pharmacy ASAP. Hotel may sell it too

TapasForTwo · 26/03/2019 06:24

That sucks. One reason why I never go away without a stash of Immodium. I hope you feel better soon.

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FrannySalinger · 26/03/2019 06:33

I wouldn't take Imodium unless you need to travel, in my opinion it's better to let your body get rid of what's making you unwell. Flat full fat coke (needs to be full fat) is your friend here. Hopefully it will pass soon, no pun intended

LivingWage · 26/03/2019 06:34

Wow, that was fast! The most important thing is to keep yourself hydrated. Did you bring something like Dioralyte sachets with you? If not, can you get someone to go to the pharmacy for you? Last resort, make your own with half a teaspoon of salt and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. Gatorade and coconut water are good drink too. Drink only bottled water not tap water, but lots of it. Sip it if you are not feeling well, don’t guzzle it. Try to stay out of the heat while you get over this, as sweating will dehydrate you too.

WRT Imodium, only take it if you are crippled with diarrhoea, as it basically stops you ejecting the bad stuff from your system. Being sick and diarrhoea are the body’s way of getting rid of digestive bad stuff.

To prevent it happening again, make sure you wash your hands before eating every time you eat. Be obsessive about it. Use soap and water, or a little bottle of sanitiser gel if you are out and about. Only drink bottled water. Don’t have ice in your drinks. Use bottled water to brush your teeth. Avoid salads as they will have been washed in water, probably tap water. Be cautious around buffets, especially seafood buffets (however in Mexico the ceviche is generally good, as the fish is pickled in lime juice which usually kills off any bacteria.) Try to only stick to hot freshly cooked food - if it’s been sitting on a buffet for a long time it has probably had numerous opportunities to find various types of bacteria.

With any luck you are just experiencing a minor adjustment to your body’s normal equilibrium and you’ll be over it by tomorrow. My experience of Mexico (and most of the holiday resorts I’ve been to) is that the food is generally very good in restaurants where it is cooked fresh, but that all inclusive buffets are basically asking for it. If you are in an all inclusive, try to stick to food you know has been cooked just for you ie the a la carte rather than the buffet.

LivingWage · 26/03/2019 06:35

And btw enjoy Mexico, it’s my favourite place!

IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 06:36

It's awful. I took Imodium half an hour ago, but it's been non-stop for about 4.5 hours now. How long does this usually last? I've never had it before and all the information I can find is just ways to avoid it... too late for that, really.

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 26/03/2019 06:40

Wow. You are lucky to have reached adulthood with never having had diarrhoea before.

LivingWage doesn't coconut water have a laxative effect?

Other advice - avoid ice in drinks.

Hughes12345 · 26/03/2019 06:40

You have my sympathy! I had a really nasty bug last year, the D was just water consistency every half an hour, it was absolutely grim. Took about 12 hours to stop and I felt wiped out the next day but bounced back after that.

LivingWage · 26/03/2019 06:41

Sorry to hear that, it can last anywhere from about 12 hrs to 3 days. Only take more Imodium if you need to go somewhere. If you are in a hotel and are otherwise comfortable, it’s best to let whatever is causing your digestive system grief to pass through it as quickly as possible. Imodium doesn’t cure food poisoning, it just stops you shitting, which effectively stops you getting rid of the offending stuff as quickly. You really need to keep hydrated, that is the single most important thing. Dehydration will be the second thing that causes you to feel crap after the diarrhoea. The suggestion of flat coke is a good one too, basically drink lots of fluids, and try and get some down you with sugars and a bit of salt in to replace what you are losing in the loo.

IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 06:43

Thank you! I've had diarrhea before, but nothing like this. This is pain and the need for a toilet every 5 minutes. I wish it was every half hour!

OP posts:
strawberrisc · 26/03/2019 06:44

Be INCREDIBLY thankful it’s not coupled with sickness. Wait for it to pass, replace your electrolytes and always avoid anything water based when abroad. Brush your teeth in mineral water, avoid ice, ice cream and even salad unless you’re in a resort.

IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 06:44

Here's hoping I'm one of the "lucky" ones with a 12 hour bout... DH is is sound asleep and blissfully unaware that this is happening!

OP posts:
IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 06:46

I'm in a resort - is it not ok to eat salad and fruit and ice? I've had all of the above today! Confused

OP posts:
Ellabella989 · 26/03/2019 06:49

It could be something like Campylobacter food poisoning. I had this in Spain and must have had diarrhoea about 70 times in a day! I was shitting out bile by the end of it and lost a few pounds in weight. After about 2-3 days I started to feel a bit better and could keep some food and water in. Get the hotel reception to get you some dioralyte type drinks as they were a life saver for me at the time

NicoAndTheNiners · 26/03/2019 06:50

The ice will be made from their tap water, salad will be washed in their tap water, ditto fruit you don't peel. So not safe.

Ellabella989 · 26/03/2019 06:51

A lot of resorts will rinse salad and fruit in tap water, and they will use tap water to make the ice cubes. Always ask for drinks without ice. Hope you feel a lot better soon

NicoAndTheNiners · 26/03/2019 06:51

Dd had it when we were in Egypt and it lasted 12 hours. She was right as rain one minute, then jumped out the pool to run to the loo which wasn't far and didn't make it!

LivingWage · 26/03/2019 06:55

Tapas it’s a mild laxative but when you have travelers diarrhoea that’s the least of your worries. It does have good levels of electrolytes which your body needs when you are ill, and it is relatively easy to get hold of. It is also slightly alkaline so it helps calm the stomach down a bit. It’s often recommended in the tropics as a drink for when you are suffering. I spend a lot of time in holiday resorts due to work and am on an island in the Indian Ocean atm but will be in Mexico next week As a senior member of my team I have a reasonable amount of experience in helping less experienced work colleagues when they have health related mishaps.

NicoAndTheNiners · 26/03/2019 06:57

In Egypt you can buy some sort of antibiotic over the counter for it for about £5. They do recommend not to take Imodium. Not sure if Mexico sell this same medication or really what it does..... or even sure it's an antibiotic.

IckyTummy · 26/03/2019 07:09

If it's still bad in the morning, I'll send DH to the lobby and see if there is anything I can take. But wow the cramps are horrific.

OP posts:
WrongKindOfFace · 26/03/2019 07:21

You might need antibiotics. Is there a clinic or dr nearby? Be careful with the hotel’s choice of dr - apparently they can try and refer you to the most expensive hospital possible as they get a referral fee. You could ring your insurance helpline and they will tell you where to go.

In the meantime try and stay hydrated and I hope you feel better soon.

JourneyofSelfImprovement · 26/03/2019 07:28

I had this on holiday a couple of years ago.

Was bad for all of my holiday and wasn't right for 6 weeks after I got home! Doctor told me I could be left with permanent IBS.

I really hope it clears up for you soon OP, you have my every sympathy Thanks

TapasForTwo · 26/03/2019 07:43

That's good to know LivingWage

LivingWage · 26/03/2019 07:51

Not sure antibiotics will be of much use. Many of the causes of travelers diarrhoea are parasitic. Long cases of illness are unfortunate but tend to be the exception rather than the rule.